Horticultural implement



Nov. 30, 1937. w. F. CERVENKA ET AL 2,100,379

HORTICULTURAL IMPLEMENT Filed April 3, 1936 We: 3 Z21 ML. face Patented Nov. 30, 1937 City,

1"; ,1 sent invention melatesto .mechanismior releasably holding a :pain ,of; elements ,-in; relatively turnedicpositionsgand-5p rticularly to horticultural implements;hayingg such elements; and its object is, generally, to provide an improved mechanism for this purpose which shall be very effective and economical in construction and readily operated manually; and particularly, to provide such a mechanism whose elements are so related and connected as to prevent dirt and the like from entering between its relatively movable parts; and further, to provide an adjustable foot rest for such an implement.

These and any other and. more specific objects hereinafter appearing are attained by, and the invention finds preferable embodiment in, the illustrative structure and mechanism particularly described in the body of this specification and illustrated by the accompanying drawing, in

The

O which:

Figure 1 is an elevational side view of a horticultural implement, certain parts being shown in longitudinal section;

Figure 2 is a like view of the same, relatively turnable elements thereof being turned to another position and one of the parts shown in section in Figure 1 being turned to another position;

Figure 3 is a sectional view thereof (enlarged) taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an elevational side view (enlarged) of middle portions thereof;

Figure 5 is a sectional view or the same taken on line 55 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a like view thereof but showing the latch released;

Figure '7 is a sectional view of the same taken on line 1-! of Figure 6.

The embodiment of the invention chosen for illustration by this drawing is a horticultural implement comprising a tool element, a handle element turnable thereon to adjusted positions, and a latch for releasably holding said elements in suchpositions.

The tool element designated generally I comprises the oppositely disposed hoe or spade 2 and the rake or fork 3; the handle element is desig nated generally l and comprises aligned, crosssectionally round parts, the metallic head 39 and wooden handle proper 5 held in its socket as by a pin 6. The head 30 of element l has a slot I open at the end 8 and at the opposite sides 9 of said element, this slot having parallelly disposed side walls I and a concave arcuate inner end wall I l. The element I has a shank portion I2 extending into said slot and having opposite parallelly disposed ar e i mm o'FFicEj 9 7 4 stander B MPL MENT i i andFredMillefTraverse" sides, I3 and a convex arcuate inner end- I 4., These elements LA are connected for relative turning movement by a pintlepin' I extendingtransverse 1y said elementsand concentric, withthe end IA. of element I and the end wall I I of said slot so that in the relative turning movement of said elements the sides I3 and the end #4 of element I are in slidably bearing contact With the side walls I 0 and the end wall I I respectively of the slot 1.

One side of element I has a keeper socket, or as shown a plurality of such sockets I6 angularly spaced about the pintle pin I5. The element 4, i. e. its head 30, has in its side an elongated cavity I! with opposite side walls I8 and an opening I9 extending between the bottom of this cavity and said slot I.

A latch is pivotally connected by the pintle pin ill with the head of element 4 so as to be swingable inwardly to the position shown in Figure 5 wherein it is seated in the cavity with its inwardly extending lug 22 extending through said opening I9 and operatively engaging in a keeper socket I6 of element I to hold said elements against relative turning movement. In this position the opposite sides 23 of the latch contact the opposite sides I8 of the cavity; or the latch may be swung outwardly to the position shown in Figure 6 wherein its lug 22 is released from the keeper socket to permit said elements to be relatively turned to another position.

It will be seen that by reason of the shank portion I2 of element I fittingly contacting the side walls l8 and the end wall II of the slot '1 in all turned operative positions of said elements, and the latch fittingly contacting the sides of the cavity I? in its operative position thus closing the cavity, dirt and the like is prevented from entering between said elements in the use of the implement so that the operation thereof is not impaired.

The walls of the keeper sockets I 6 and the sides 1 the lug 22 are correspondingly inclined so that a wedging action between them is provided.

A sleeve member 3| surrounds the head 30 and also the handle proper 5 of element 4 and is slid!- able therealong to the position shown in Figures 4 and 5 wherein it covers the free end of latch 29 to hold it in operative position, or oppositely to position shown in Figure 6 releasing the latch. This sleeve member has a lever or foot rest 32 pivoted at 33 in its slot 34. This lever may be turned to the position shown in Figure 1 wherein its arm 35 extends transversely to be engaged by the operators foot in using the spade, this levers short arm 36 engaging the element 4, or this lever oil may be turned to the position seen in Figure 2 in which it is parallel with the handle. The sleeve member may be turned around the parts 5 and 30 to desired positions for using the foot rest. It will be seen that this sleeve member greatly strengthens the joint of parts 5 and 30.

The invention being intended to be pointed out in the claims, is not to be limited to or by details of construction of. the particular embodiment thereof illustrated by the drawing or hereinbefore described.

We claim:

1. In a horticultural implement, in combination: a tool element and an elongated handle element pivotally connected for relatively turning movement about an axis transverse thereto; a latch pivotally mounted on the handle element turnable inwardly to a position engaging the tool element for holding said elements against such relative movement; a collar on the handle element turnable therearound and slidable therealong to and from aposition engaging the latch for holding the same in its said position; a foot rest pivotally mounted on the collar for turning movement to and from operative position transverse the axis of the handle element and turnable with the collar to angular positions about said axis.

2. In a horticultural implement, in combination: a tool element and an elongated handle element pivotally connected for relatively turning movement about an axis transverse thereto; a latch pivotally mounted on the handle element turnable inwardly toa position engaging the tool element for holding said elements against such relative movement; a collar on the handle element turnable therearound and slidable therealong to and from a position engaging the latch for holding the same in its said position; a lever fulcrumed on the collar having a pedal arm and an arm adapted to engage the handle element under pressure on the pedal arm for holding the collar against movement relatively thereto, the lever being turnable with the collar to angular positions about the axis of the handle element in the absence of said pressure on the pedal element.

WILLIAM F. CERVENKA. FRED MILLER. 

